Terrific race Saturday morning by the Paul VI girls, who placed 2nd to a Scotch Plains-based North Jersey all-star team in the state Parochial A championships at Holmdel.
This is PVI’s first time in the top two at states in 23 years.
Paul VI, ranked 7th in the state, scored just 72 points, finishing 30 points ahead of Pingry for the top spot among programs that are built the conventional way. PVI was 2nd to the
Junior Grace Gutowski broke up the sweep attempt by the Scotch Plains-based all-star team, taking 4th in 18:58.73. That’s 3rd-fastest ever at Holmdel County Park by a Paul VI girl, behind Dawn Cody [18:50 in 1982] and Shaelan McNally [18:51 in 2023].
Senior Giovanna Mantuano took 9th in 19:36.84, sophomore Peyton Blake was 17th in 20:11.13, sophomore Morgan Kuzma 20th in 20:30.34 and senior Macy Huber 26th in 20:58.42.
Freshman Isabella Suarez ran 21:17.24 for 31st and junior Kara Salamone 41st 21:56.61, giving PVI seven under 22 minutes.
Last time Paul VI finished among the top two at states was 2002, when they finished 2nd to Red Bank Catholic, 62-68. That team was led by Erin Sigwart and Liz Kessler in 3rd and 4th with Rachel Lively, Caitlin Billman and Kristen Sheppard also in the scoring group.
Paul VI averaged 20:03.09, fastest by far in school history and fastest ever by a South Jersey school.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 